For a fan, there's nothing better than opening week. That first game ends months of frustration and hanging on to any kind of football fix he/she can get (i.e. the draft).

For a player, there's nothing better than being in a battle. A battle with a person you see every day, a person wearing the same colors as you. Going in every day knowing that if you're not at the top of your game on that practice field, you'll never see that playing field.

No player cares to know how that bench feels.

The stress is incredible, the mental toughness must be at its highest level, and your body must be at its peak.

It's that time from a couple weeks after the draft right up until the Saturday before that first game. It's that time that will make or break a season, a career.

Every season there are a few key battles during camps (mini-camp, training camp, etc.) that will shape the team for the coming year, and this year is no different for the 2009 Philadelphia Eagles.

In fact, there may be more for the Eagles this year than any prior year.

Old faces are gone, new faces are ready to step in, but how will it break down?

Free Safety - Sean Jones vs. Quintin Demps

Jones is the veteran, Demps is the young guy. However Demps has a year on Jones as far as seniority with the Eagles is concerned.

Jones has been highly underrated during his time in the league with Cleveland. If you've been an Eagles fan for more than five minutes, you've seen the stat that he's third in the league over the past three years in interceptions by a safety with 14 (behind Ed Reed and O.J. Atogwe).

Jones is a ballhawk. He's a guy who can change a game with that key interception or deflection. He played well on a bad Cleveland defense, so what might he be able to do surrounded by the third-best defense in the league?

Demps is coming into his second year after being drafted in the fourth round out of UTEP (Texas El-Paso). His key role with the team in his rookie year was in the return game, and he did a decent job. He had one return for a touchdown, but unfortunately it came in a game that will only be remembered for the benching of Donovan McNabb.

In some spot duty last season, Demps looked lost at times. He also made some dumb rookie mistakes.

For examples of both, just look at the NFC Championship game vs. the Arizona Cardinals. His late hit on Kurt Warner was wrong, stupid, costly, and if I were Reid he wouldn't have seen the field again.

Then there was the triple pass from Warner to Edge to Warner to Fitzgerald 60 yards down the field. Demps falls over himself and Fitz walks into the endzone. Can Demps be trusted this early in his career?

I don't believe so.

Starter: Sean Jones - Demps will be a starter at some point, but now is not that time. I think the Eagles keep him as a returner and maybe give him some time in the defensive backfield.

Dark Horse Candidate(s): Rashad Baker, Victor Harris

Cornerback - Sheldon Brown vs. Ellis Hobbs vs. Joselio Hanson

Brown is the incumbent starter, but due to his recent contract squabbles may find himself out of favor with Reid & Co. That's not to say that he would be sat simply because he's complaining about his status on the team, but it could cause some mental lapses for him (like Lito Sheppard last year).

The key here will be if Brown can separate football from business and just shut up and play. If he can, he should be fine, but if not he'll be in trouble.

Hobbs is a guy who the Eagles just traded for over this draft weekend. Two fifth-round picks is a steal for a guy who has started for a team like the New England Patriots over the past few years.

The knock on Hobbs is his size. At 5'9" it will be difficult for him to cover some of the taller receivers. He, like Brown, also has issues with his contract and may or may not throw a fit as well. His contract was a main reason for his trade in the first place. Hopefully he doesn't bring it up until after the season.

Hanson is really a dark horse in all of this, but is a guy who cannot be overlooked either by the media or Brown and Hobbs. Since they both have contract issues and are looking to get paid, Hanson may be able to beat them out by simply focusing on only football and overplaying them in camp.

Hanson got his payday, so there's nothing to worry about on that front. He stepped up big time last year while taking advantage of Sheppard's situation. He got paid, and now looks to fight off new competition and keep his spot.

Starter: Sheldon Brown - I don't believe that Brown will allow his contract situation to distract him. I think he keeps his job for this year and probably gets unloaded next year. Look for Hobbs and Hanson to battle it out, but probably wind up splitting time in the nickel anyway.

Dark Horse Candidate(s): Jack Ickegwuonu, Victor Harris

Linebacker - Omar Gaither vs. Akeem Jordan

Gaither has been a starter since halfway through his rookie season. He's taken over for a Philly icon in Jeremiah Trotter, and also was the reason Takeo Spikes was sent packing after only one season.

After being a fifth round selection out of Tennessee, Gaither has far outperformed his expectations. He's football-savvy, and a blue-collar, hard-working player. However after the debacle vs. Baltimore last season, Gaither was inexplicably deemed the scapegoat and benched in favor of Akeem Jordan.

Jordan was an undrafted rookie free agent in 2007 out of D-1AA James Madison in Virginia. Jordan is somewhat undersized at 6'1" and 226 lbs, but he makes up for it with his speed off the edge and his vision to get through to the ball-carrier.

After replacing Gaither in 2008, Jordan impressed by coming on quickly. A huge thing for a new starter is not having that one bad play that sticks out, and I can't recall any for Jordan. All that means is that he did his job. He wasn't spectacular, but he did his job and that's really all that can be expected of a young player.

Starter: Omar Gaither - While I liked the way Jordan played last year, I think that Gaither is just a much more polished linebacker who's not finished getting better. I do not believe he has hit his ceiling quite yet, and the trade talk surrounding him is ridiculous. Look for Gaither on the weakside in '09.

Dark Horse Candidate(s): Charleston Hughes, Moise Fukou, Tank Daniels

Left Defensive End - Juqua Parker vs. Darren Howard vs. Victor Abiamiri

Parker, formerly known as Juqua Thomas, has been the starter for the past couple of years, and has done an admirable job in his role. He is a big guy who plays well against the run and can get some pressure on the quarterback.

His weakness is the latter portion of the season. His production drops off significantly after Week 8 or so, and can cause problems for the defense trying to push for a playoff spot in a tough division.

Howard was a big free agent acquisition a few years back after becoming a big name in New Orleans, however his time with the Eagles has been average at best. Howard had bulked up to around 290 in order to be able to play both end and tackle in Jim Johnson's defense.

In 2008, he dropped about 20 pounds and played around 270. The drop really showed and paid off as he led the team with 10 sacks and played like the elite player he was in New Orleans. The problem with Howard is that he will turn 33 during the season, and is a little old to be a starting end.

Abiamiri was a second round pick in 2007 and has a lot of high expectations from the Eagles' coaching staff. He was having a promising training camp last year before a wrist injury sidelined him for a few weeks. He didn't seem to ever fully recover from injury, playing in only 10 games and was only able to muster two sacks.

He's still a young guy, but a guy that the Eagles want to see develop into the player they thought was worthy of a second round pick just a couple of years ago.

Starter: Juqua Parker - I think Parker will get the nod again this year because he's really the best option. Abiamiri is untapped potential at this point, and Howard really is in the back-end of his career. Parker will start, but the rotation will probably be heavier than ever, with all three of these guys seeing time.

Dark Horse Candidate(s): Bryan Smith, Chris Clemons

Center - Jamaal Jackson vs. Nick Cole

Jackson has been the starter at center ever since 2006 when he beat out Hank Fraley for the spot and even having the competition showing up on the cover of SI magazine (pictured above).

After two sub-par seasons from Jackson, who played like a Pro Bowl guy in 2006, the Eagles coaching staff and fans have put him on notice. At this rate, Jackson may find him on the SI cover again. However this time he may not like the outcome.

Cole impressed the staff (and the fans) last year by filling in for Max Jean-Gilles who was filling in for Shawn Andrews at right guard. Cole played extremely well and really surpassed expectations by playing well in the run and pass.

He really helped to calm the nerves of an anxious city after seeing a Pro Bowl right guard and his backup both go down with season-ending injuries. Cole is a good player and certainly deserves his shot.

Starter: Jamaal Jackson - This may be a surprise, but overall I believe Jackson is the best player here. Granted, he hasn't played well over the past couple of years, but that could have been because of the lack of competition. Yes he should have been able to perform regardless, but competition pushes players to play better. He knows he's on a short leash.

Dark Horse Candidate(s): Mike McGlynn

Battles Not Determining A Starter:

Wide Receiver - Jeremy Maclin vs. Reggie Brown vs. Hank Baskett

This is assuming that Curtis and D-Jack have the one and two spots locked up, with Avant having time guaranteed somewhere.

Maclin, this year's first round pick, is a guy who may take a couple years to develop, or he'll be an instant sensation. The reason he may take a couple years is because of the offense he ran at Mizzou. I don't think the kid ran a single intermediate route, something a receiver must do a lot in the west coast offense.

He will be a good receiver, whether that is '09 or as late as '11, we'll just have to wait and see. His success will be contingent upon learning the playbook. From there, it's all on his talent, and there's no shortage of that.

Brown may be as good as gone in the minds of Philly fans, but I'm not so sure that Reid & Co. feel the same way. There's a reason they made him a second round pick, and he's shown flashes of that throughout his short time here in Philly.

In his first two years, he accumulated 89 receptions, 1,387 yards, 12 TD's, and one rushing touchown for 13 total. That's not bad for your first two years in the league.

2006 was by far his best season with 46 receptions for 816 yards and nine total touchdowns, including one rushing. He looked to have the speed, the burst, the hands, and the football intelligence to be a successful receiver in the league.

Even in 2007 he had a pretty good year, with a career-high 61 receptions for 780 yards and four touchdowns.

The point being that I do not believe Reggie should be cut or traded or whatever else because he comes out and has one bad year, the first really bad year of his career. He was banged up last year, and should be given another shot to compete.

When healthy, I believe Reggie has a very high ceiling. He may never become more than a two or three, but he certainly warrants a spot on this roster and another chance to prove himself.

Baskett is a guy who I feel is extremely underutilized. They have not used him in positions where he would be a fantastic asset, such as the redzone. The guy is 6'4" and a huge target. They thought enough of him to trade for him as an undrafted rookie free agent before he had even gone to mini-camp, so they must have had a plan for him.

He's a good combination of size and speed, as evidenced by the fact that he's only one of six players in NFL history to have two or more touchdown receptions of 90+ yards.

Battle Winner: Jeremy Maclin - DeSean Jackson's success last year has hopefully opened Reid's eyes to the fact that receivers can contribute right away. As I said, Maclin may be a bit raw in the route-running department for the first year, but that's something that can be coached up. He's got too much talent to sit on the bench.

Dark Horse Candidate(s): Brandon Gibson (after talking to some people from WSU, it would appear that Gibson may be a steal in the sixth), Shaheer McBride

Running Back - Lorenzo Booker vs. Kyle Eckel

Booker was not given a large role in the backfield last year, and therefore was not able to do much, only getting on the field during garbage time of a huge win. Booker was brought in because of his similarities to Brian Westbrook with the thought being that he could spell Westbrook.

That never came to fruition, and now Booker's place on this team is being questioned, especially with the addition of second round pick LeSean "Shady" McCoy. However, having sunk a fourth round pick into him, Booker will get every chance to succeed before being let go.

Eckel was a mid-season signing, and like Booker, did not get many opportunities. However, unlike Booker, Eckel made the best of his opportunities. He was brought in as a fullback, but used more as a big running back for short-yardage situations.

While he did a good job on offense and special teams, Eckel may not have a place on the roster because of the signing of Leonard Weaver from Seattle. Reid does not like to usually have the same kind of player at the same position, but both of these players fit into that category.

Battle Winner: Kyle Eckel - This is a close call, but I believe Eckel edges Booker here because of his ability to also play special teams. Eckel is a blue-collar guy who Reid will fall in love with because he'll stick his nose into any pile, and player, and will run fearless on the field.

Eckel may be similar to Weaver, but it boils down to contribution, and he will contribute more between offense and special teams, whereas Booker would only play offense. Reid already has a Westbrook-clone in McCoy.

I believe Booker can be a good player, and will be a good pickup for another team after being released in a numbers game.

Dark Horse Candidate(s): Eldra Buckley, Walter Mendenhall

All of these battles warrant some attention, as they will shape the team not only for next year, but years to come. This is the most important time of the year for teams around the NFL to find out what they have on their roster.

The Eagles are no different. Stay tuned, it promises to be an exciting time.

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The Philadelphia Eagles had quite a successful draft weekend. They were able to land three eventual starters with their first three picks and guys who can contribute in some manner right away.

1 (19) - Jeremy Maclin - WR - Mizzou

Maclin was perhaps the surprise pick of the draft at number 19 overall. The surprise comes not only as to where he was taken, but who took him. Then on top of that, the Eagles passed up Brandon Pettigrew to take him.

Nobody expected the Eagles to draft a wide receiver in the first round because that’s just not Reid’s style. But not only did they draft a receiver, they traded up to get him.

How’s that for throwing a wrench into the system?

I look for Maclin to make an immediate impact in the same style D-Jack did last year. The Eagles have to have one of, if not the, fastest receiving corps in the league. Kevin Curtis, D-Jack, and now Maclin.

Ridiculous.

2 (53) - LeSean McCoy - RB - Pitt

A Harrisburg, PA native, McCoy has been around the area for a long time. He played his high school ball at Bishop McDevitt, a local catholic high school in Lancaster county.

From there, he went and played his college ball at Pitt, where he was thrown to the forefront of top NFL prospects.

Now McCoy doesn’t have to leave Pennsylvania at all. He can make an immediate impact and the Eagles will look for nothing less. He must improve on his blocking, and once he does that this local boy will look to make an immense impact on the 2009 Philadelphia Eagles.

Coincidentally, another former Eagles’ running back used to play at Bishop McDevitt; Ricky Watters. He was pretty good for us, huh?

5 (153) - Cornelius Ingram - TE - Florida

Ingram is a guy who I’ve been screaming for the Eagles to grab for a long time. Ever since his 2007 season, in fact.

Ingram missed out on 2008, which caused his stock to fall this year. However, injury or not, the talent and big-playmaking ability is impossible to deny.

If his knee is fully-healed, Ingram is an absolute steal in the fifth round. But even if it’s not, he was only a fifth round pick. That said, I look for Ingram to play behind Celek this year, but to become a big-time threat in the near-future.

The Rest of the Pack:

5 (157) - Victor “Macho” Harris - CB - Virginia Tech
5 (159) - Fenuki Tupou - T - Maryland
6 (194) - Brandon Gibson - WR - Washington State
7 (213) - Paul Fanaika - G - Arizona State
7 (230) - Moise Fokou - LB - Maryland

Honestly, there’s not a whole lot to know about the rest of these guys. They look to be depth guys, but hopefully some of them step up and surprise us like guys before them such as Omar Gaither, Brent Celek, Trent Cole, etc.

Harris out of VT looks to be a fairly talented and bigger (almost 6’) corner who will compete with Ickegwuonu for that final corner spot. Could also be kicked inside to safety depending on his coverage skills.

Tupou and Fanaika are really depth guys who will have to scratch and claw their way onto the roster. It hadn’t happened yet, but you knew the fifth round was just the absolute latest Reid could go without taking a lineman.

Gibson is a decent sleeper guy here. He did a lot of good things in Washington State, but a sixth-round guy usually doesn’t transfer to the NFL well (yes, I know Tom Brady went in the sixth).

Fokou is a guy who could push for a roster spot depending on how much the Eagles like Tracy White. Either way these guys are nothing more than a special teams presence, but it will be exciting to watch him battle it out to try and make this roster.

Veterans Added Via the Draft:

Jason Peters for a 1st and 4th (along with a 6th in 2010)
Ellis Hobbs for two 5th-round picks (137 and 141)

The Jason Peters trade has been analyzed to death. I love it. Moving on.

Who would have thought that the Eagles would have traded for a cornerback? Well, I guess it’s not that big of a surprise considering the Sheldon Brown situation. Even though Reid denies it, I think it’s fairly obvious that this is a direct result of that situation.

All the reason to love the trade even more. I’m a big fan of Ellis Hobbs and I believe he’s underrated. He led the AFC in kick return yardage last year and, oh yeah, the man can play corner as well.

He’s only 5’9” but he plays like he’s 6’1”. He should help immediately.

Overall Grade: A-

I know the draft grades are dumb but it’s really all we have to show our approval/disapproval with the draft.

The “A-” means that the Eagles got all the positions I was hoping for, but there were a few moves that left me scratching my head.

Such as why no blocking tight end? Not a huge deal I guess but it would have been nice. The Eagles are sitting there in the seventh round with Rashad Jennings still on the board (a guy who was projected as a third or fourth-round pick) but instead they draft a linebacker who nobody has ever heard of.

Jennings would have been a steal there and didn’t go until 250. My only thinking is, perhaps something was wrong that we just don’t know about.

Either way, this weekend was a resounding success for the Eagles and should translate into some rookie help for ‘09.

If I was forced to give a bold prediction, I would have to give two.

1. Don’t be surprised to hear Maclin’s name in the running for Rookie of the Year.

2. LeSean McCoy goes for about 500 yards rushing, 300+ receiving and about eight total touchdowns in spot duty.

BONUS: 3. Westbrook is back to Pro Bowl form because of McCoy.

There we go. But one last thing, what’s with all the funny names?
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The 2009 NFL Draft has been exciting thus far through the first round. There have been some trades, some surprises, and perhaps some reaches.

Let's take a look at each selection.

1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford - QB - Georgia

First off, this guy has bust written all over him. The documented strength of Stafford is the arm strength, while the weakness is that he is rather slow in his progressions and reads.

To me, that screams, "Bust!"

Making reads and becoming quicker in his progressions can be coached so that may not turn out to be a big deal. Unfortunately, the Lions are not well-known for sculpting talented players more than they are for ruining them. Stay tuned.

2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith - LT - Baylor

This is a fantastic pick for the St. Louis Rams. They were rumored to want to trade out of this pick, but since there were no takers they did the smart thing and took the best player on the board. Let’s also not forget he fills a huge need.

Smith is a big, nasty guy who will bring a certain attitude to the Rams that they have lacked for quite some time.

Look for this guy to hold down that left tackle spot for the next 12-15 years.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyson Jackson - DE - LSU

This may have been a slight reach for Jackson at 3, but with that said the Chiefs got a good player here.

Jackson is a guy who’s athletic enough to play end in a 4-3, but big enough to play end in the 3-4, and play it well.

The Chiefs are looking to get tougher all-around, and Jackson helps that.

4. Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Curry - OLB - Wake Forest

Curry fell into the Seahawks’ lap with the number four pick in the draft, after passing by a team everyone was sure would take him with the third pick in the Kansas City Chiefs.

Curry may be the best overall player in the draft this year, and was in talks with the Lions to become the first overall pick.

If there is such a thing as a value pick in the top five, the Seahawks just got it.

5. New York Jets (from Cleveland Browns): Mark Sanchez - QB - USC

In the first blockbuster trade of the 2009 draft, the Jets traded an immense amount (swapped first-round picks, 5 and 17, their second-round pick, along with players Abram Elam, Kenyan Coleman, and QB Brett Ratliff) for an unproven guy.

Not just a guy unproven in the NFL, but unproven in college as well, making only 16 starts in his college career. But then again, Matt Cassel started 16 less than that.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith - LT - Alabama

The Bengals did what most people thought they would do, and that is drafted LT Andre Smith. Regardless of his problems this offseason, Smith is an incredible talent and may have been the second guy off the board if it weren’t for the aforementioned troubles.

The Bengals have acquired a guy who has the potential to be a fantastic, Pro Bowl caliber left tackle for a long time in the NFL.

7. Oakland Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey - WR - Maryland

In typical Al Davis fashion, he overlooked talent and any other sort of stat or intangible and drafted solely on speed.

So with Michael Crabtree still on the board, waiting in the draft’s green room, the Oakland Raiders selected Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Without getting offensive, this is just a dumb pick. Heyward-Bey may turn out to be a good player, but he was not worth the seventh pick. The fact that Crabtree was still on the board just makes it even worse.

Davis’ affinity for speed will come back to bite him.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Eugene Monroe - LT - Virginia

Monroe was considered by many to be the best left tackle in this draft and could have gone in the top five simply based on preference.

The only knock on Monroe is that he’s not aggressive or tough enough in the run game, but the same was said about Joe Thomas; The same guy who made it to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season.

9. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji - DT - Boston College

With the Packers bringing in Dom Capers to switch the defense over to the 3-4, Raji was the only pick here. He can be that kind of Vince Wilfork-type nose tackle who can keep the linebackers free and clear to move around and make plays.

Raji is a great jumping-off point to get this 3-4 moving. He should be an impact player immediately. They better hope that their 2007 first-round pick DT Justin Harrell can play defensive end.

10. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree - WR - Texas Tech

The 49ers need to kiss the ground that Al Davis walks on, then send him a thank-you letter for allowing their franchise to progress, while sending the Raiders back a few years.

Crabtree will help out whichever quarterback wins the job in camp look a whole lot better. The last time the 49ers drafted a wide receiver who was a playmaker but perhaps a little slow, it worked out just fine.

For those who don’t know, that man was Jerry Rice.

11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin - DE/OLB - Penn State

The Buffalo Bills must have a plan for Aaron Maybin, because he doesn’t really fit into a 4-3. He’s a little too small to be a 4-3 defensive end, and not quite big enough to play OLB. He’s a perfect 3-4 pass-rushing OLB.

Look for the Bills to try and bulk him up to play outside linebacker.

12. Denver Broncos: Knowshon Moreno - RB - Georgia

In one of the biggest surprises of the first round, the Broncos picked Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno. Moreno is one of seven running backs on the Broncos roster heading into 2009.

This is a textbook case of simply selecting the best player on the board and not selecting for need, but was Moreno the best player on the board at the 12th pick? The Broncos are certainly starting the Josh McDaniels-era in a peculiar fashion.

13. Washington Redskins: Brian Orakpo - DE - Texas

Orakpo is another guy who was projected as a possible 3-4 OLB, but has been drafted by a 4-3 team as a defensive end.

He’s a high-motor guy who will help the Redskins get pressure on the quarterback, something they’ll need in a quarterback-heavy division with Eli Manning, Tony Romo, and Donovan McNabb.

14. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins - CB/FS - Ohio State

Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins could have easily been rated the best corner and the best free safety coming out of college this year. He reminds me a lot of Antrel Rolle in that he’s versatile enough to play both.

Personally I would have him playing free safety, but with the addition of Darren Sharper he may see time at corner until Sharper hangs it up.

15. Houston Texans: Brian Cushing - LB - USC

Cushing is the first of the USC linebackers to be drafted, but I’m not sold that he’s the best. I believed, and still do, that the best linebacker from that group was Rey Maualuga, then Cushing, and then Clay Matthews.

However, I do believe that Cushing is a good player and will be very good next to DeMeco Ryans. Cushing is a smart guy who plays within his assignment which will allow him to make an impact day one.

16. San Diego Chargers: Larry English - DE - Northern Illinois

This is a great pick for the Chargers who lost their defensive end, Igor Olshansky, to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency.

A lot of people are screaming “reach” here at this pick, but I think this was a guy who was incredibly underrated and will make a big impact on a struggling Chargers’ defense.

He comes in listed as a defensive end, but he could play OLB in the 3-4. We’ll see if they have him bulk up and play DE or not.

17. Tampa Bay Bucs (NYJ thru CLE): Josh Freeman - QB - Kent State

The Bucs moved up from 19 to 17 in order to grab Kent State quarterback Josh Freeman, a guy most had thought the Bucs were targeting from the very beginning. This move marked the second trade-down made by Cleveland.

The Bucs have a starter right now in Byron Leftwhich, who they believe can play and mentor Josh Freeman until he’s ready to start for them. Leftwhich and Freeman are similar in physique and style of play, which will allow Freeman to really learn a lot from a good veteran quarterback.

18. Denver Broncos: Robert Ayers - LB - Tennessee

It took them two first-round picks, but at least they finally made a pick that made sense.

After a headscratcher of a pick, the Broncos selected Robery Ayers out of Tennessee, and a guy who can come in and help with their transition to the 3-4 immediately.

He’s an extremely talented athlete and very competitive. This pick shows that the Broncos are married to their switch to the 3-4. Ayers will be a very important piece of that puzzle.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (TB thru CLE): Jeremy Maclin - WR - Mizzou

In an extremely surprising move, the Philadelphia Eagles traded up from the 21st pick in order to select wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.

With an entire city clamoring for Anquan Boldin or Brandon Pettigrew, the Eagles went their typical way and shocked everyone watching by going wide receiver through the draft rather than a trade.

Maclin is a superb talent who could have just as easily been a top-10 pick. When I see Maclin, I think a taller, bigger, DeSean Jackson.

20. Detroit Lions: Bradon Pettigrew - TE - Oklahoma State

The Lions capped off their first round by selecting the best tight end on the board, and probably the best overall player available.

It’s never a bad first round when you can come out of it with a future franchise quarterback and the best-rated tight end in the class.

21. Cleveland Browns: Alex Mack - C - California

After moving back in the first round a total of three times, the Browns finally made a selection here with Alex Mack.

This may be another reach here, but all it takes is one team to draft a guy before you come out looking stupid. Reach or not, Mack is a player who will help the Browns whenever he gets the opportunity to play.

He was by far the best center coming out this year and the Browns got a very good player for the future.

22. Minnesota Vikings: Percy Harvin - WR - Florida

This seems like a reach as well. Harvin is obviously explosive and very dynamic, but he doesn’t have a set position. I’m baffled as to how you can spend a first-round pick on a guy who doesn’t really fit anywhere.

He’s not bulky enough to play running back, but not tall enough to play receiver so his success will be contingent upon the talent of the coaching staff. When I think of Harvin I immediately think Reggie Bush, but not quite as explosive.

I’m not sure if this guy is a first-round talent.

23. Baltimore Ravens (from NE): Michael Oher - LT - Miss

Michael Oher is a guy who I felt coming in was very underrated. He’s a blue-collar working kind of guy who gives it his all in order to get the job done.

He’s got very good feet and can hang with the best speed-rushers in the league. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play either left or right tackle starting day one.

24. Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry - DT - Miss

Peria Jerry was a guy who I wasn’t sold on. He’s a good player, but he just might not be first-round worthy and really reminds me of guys like John McCargo and Justin Harrell, guys who have struggled mightily after having a lot of pressure put on them as first-round picks.

Of course this is also the same thing I thought when the Falcons drafted Roddy White in almost this same spot a few years back so, this could wind up working out very well.

25. Miami Dolphins: Vontae Davis - CB - Illinois

Vontae Davis was a surprise pick here in my opinion. Davis is a guy who has well-documented mental issues that cause him to play inconsistently at times.

Sometimes he looks like a first-round guy, then other times he plays like someone who doesn’t belong on a draft board.

This is not a Parcells pick and is not a Parcells guy. If he doesn’t play well in the first couple years he could find a quick end to his career in Miami.

26. Green Bay Packers (BAL thru NE): Clay Matthews - OLB - USC

The second of the USC linebackers goes to the Packers here at 26, and they get a guy who I really like. I do think he’s a stretch here at 26, looks to me to be more of a second-round talent but they’ve got they’re guy here.

He’ll probably be kicked inside to play middle linebacker in their new 3-4 defense as he’s probably not quick enough to rush the quarterback consistently from the outside.

27. Indianapolis Colts: Donald Brown - RB - UConn

Love this guy coming out of UConn. He can run well, he can catch the ball, and he’s an intelligent football guy.

In order to play for the Colts intelligence is a high priority because Peyton Manning will put his football knowledge and overall intelligence to the test.

This is a very good pickup for the Colts, especially because of how they struggled when Joseph Addai went down last year.

28. Buffalo Bills (CAR thru PHI): Eric Wood - C - Louisville

This is another reach here. Wood is another guy who had a second-round grade, but got selected here because the Bills are drafting for need and didn’t want to wait and potentially miss out on him.

Good player, just not a good value here.

29. New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks - WR - North Carolina

Good selection by the Giants here. They fill a need but also didn’t have to reach to get him. There were a couple of good receivers still on the board at this point but Nicks must have been the best on their board.

Nicks is a guy who will have to prove himself to be a No. 1 receiver because the questions are out there, but No. 1 or not he will be a good player.

30. Tennessee Titans: Kenny Britt - WR - Rutgers

The Titans always have a need for wide receiver, but rarely do they ever take one in the first round. They apparently thought that they could not afford to miss on Britt’s rare combination of size and speed.

Another example of a team filling a need but not really reaching for the player. A very good pick by the Titans, as usual.

31. Arizona Cardinals: Chris “Beanie” Wells - RB - Ohio State

This could finally be Edge’s ticket out of Arizona. Beanie Wells is a big, tough guy who will intimidate and bruise any defender he runs into.

He’s a rare combination of size, speed, and agility. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield and should fit very, very well in Arizona’s system.

When you think of Beanie Wells, think Stephen Jackson.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Evander “Ziggy” Hood - DT - Mizzou

Hood is a bit of a reach here, but not much. He’s another guy who I gave a second-round grade and may have been there for the Steelers to possibly trade up and grab him somewhere in the middle of the second.

With that said, Hood’s a good player who can really help them out. At 6’3 and 300 pounds he may or may not be able to play DE in the 3-4. With Casey Hampton, the Steelers don’t really have a need for NT.

I thought Hood was a 4-3 DT but the Steelers evidently believe he can play in the 3-4.



The draft is an exciting time, and this year is no different. There are still moves to be made and surprises to be had so keep watching.

If you watch long enough, the Raiders just may draft you.
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ESPN's Micheal Smith is reporting that the Atlanta Falcons have just traded for tight end Tony Gonzalez for a second-round pick in 2010.
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One player wants traded, and another is apparently being shopped around.

While Sheldon Brown has come out and said he wants to be traded, word is that the Eagles have no intention on trading him. However, they may be interested in trading Shawn Andrews.

PFT.com is reporting that a league source has said the Eagles have contacted at least one team to see what they would be willing to give up for Andrews, although the team was not named.

Before I go any further with this, I'm going to say that I don't buy it. Not for one second do I believe that the Eagles would trade away a Pro Bowl guard with an extremely cap-friendly number. On top of that, Andrews played in only two games last year. There's not a huge market for a player who only played 1/8th of the previous season.

Andrew is scheduled to make (in base salary) $750,000 in 2009, $2 million in 2010, $2.5 million in 2011, $2.75 million in 2012, $3.75 million in 2013, $5.25 million in 2014, and $6.25 million in 2015 as part of a 10-year, $35.5 million deal signed in 2005.

With Andy Reid's affinity for offensive linemen, why would he want to unload a Pro Bowl guard who they seem to be building around? While I believe they would have brought him in with or without Shawn there, I don't believe that they didn't make an extra push for Stacy Andrews because he's Shawn's brother.

Also, they just brought in his former college roommate. I don't know if you heard, but they traded for Jason Peters recently.

This could very well be something put out there by the Cowboys, Redskins, or Giants in order to get to Andrews. Even if this was true, the Eagles are very good at keeping things quiet and would never allow this to get out.

So while the rumor is out there, I don't put too much into it, and neither should you.
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For all of you pessimistic Eagles' fans, it would appear as the Joe Banner may be keeping his word and trading for a player we all want.

Unfortunately, that player is not Anquan Boldin. In fact, he's not a wide receiver at all.

Well, kinda.

Don Banks of SI.com is reporting that the Eagles and Atlanta Falcons are in the running for Tony Gonzalez. He claims in his report that the Eagles have expressed their willingness to part ways with a third-round pick for the 33-year old tight end.

The report does not say what the Falcons have offered, but I'm assuming only a fourth if the Eagles are in the lead. Nothing else makes sense, considering the Chiefs and Eagles actually play one another this year. So, that's not it.

The change at GM evidently has done nothing to cheapen the price tag for Gonzalez as the Chiefs are still asking for a second-round pick.

The Chiefs are worried about the backlash if the fan base perceives the deal as a bargain for the other team, whether it be the Eagles or Falcons, so it may cause them to stand strong in their demands for a second-round pick. Which, by the way, is not going to happen.

While Gonzalez is no doubt a first-ballot Hall of Fame guy, he is 33 years old and not worth a second round pick to the rest of the league.

Personally if I'm the Eagles, I'm doing it. I would haggle them right down to the last second, but if they refuse to budge I would give them what they want.

I understand 33 is the tail-end of a player's career, but what he can do for your team right away and maybe for another two to three years is priceless. Especially for a team like the Eagles or Falcons who are starved for a dominating tight end.

For the Eagles, it's perfect. They like Brent Celek (as they should) but don't believe he's a viable starter at this point in his career. So, start Tony G. for about two years while allowing Celek to get some snaps and learn.

What do you think Celek could do with a teacher like Tony Gonzalez? That alone is an exciting thought.

The thought is that if the Falcons lose out on Gonzalez that they will attempt to draft TE Bradon Pettigrew in this weekend's draft.

So, Philly Nation, it looks like if the Eagles can get Scott Pioli to budge on the third-round pick, we'll have the tight end we all crave.
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ESPN's John Clayton is reporting that the Ravens have offered the Cardinals a first-round pick and tight end Todd Heap for disgruntled wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

This may not be enough for the Cardinals who, while they have said they need a tight end, may not think Heap is worth the third-round compensation they're looking for in addition to a first rounder.

Let's not forget that the Cardinals are in no rush to move Boldin like the Bills were to move Jason Peters.

The Cards can sit tight and wait until their needs are met before they move Boldin, if at all.

The other side is that the Cardinals only have a little over $1 million in cap space, so a player involved with the trade may not catch their fancy, and even worse may just not be possible. They'll need cap space to sign all these new draft picks they're sure to pick up.

Clayton also reported that the Giants and Jets have also made a bid for Boldin. The Philadelphia Eagles however seem to be making no move for the receiver all of Philly-nation seems to covet.

This could mean they're not interested, or they're simply waiting to see what the going price is for Boldin. I'm inclined to put my money on the first scenario, but they've surprised me before.

This story is sure to get a huge bump this weekend at the Radio City Music Hall so stay tuned.
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Sheldon Brown has asked for a new contract. If he doesn't get a new contract, he'll ask to be traded.
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In my previous article, I had said that this trade does not necessarily mean the Eagles are out of the running for Anquan Boldin.

It would appear as though that statement was not unfounded.

According to PFT.com:

“We’re always looking for players that we think can make us better,” president Joe Banner said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I think we’ve proven many times that we’d be willing to do what it takes, whether it be a trade or do something with somebody’s contract in order to get them here.”

Seemingly going against their instincts, the Eagles may actually be considering going into the 2009 NFL draft without a first-round pick. Or a third and fourth for that matter.

“There are teams that start the year with only one first-round draft pick and they’ve traded them,” Banner said. “If we made another trade with a first-round draft pick, we’d just be in the same position as them. I think we’ll do whatever we evaluate to be the best move with any of the available players... Some of the evaluation is about the quality of what we have at certain positions.”

This would appear to mean the Eagles are still batting around the idea of making an offer for the disgruntled Pro Bowl receiver out in the desert.

If the Eagles were ever going to trade away two first round picks in the same year, why not for a 27-year old Pro Bowl left tackle, who can be a mainstay at the position for (based on the Eagles track record) about another seven years at least, and a 28-year old Pro Bowl wide receiver who really could play for a very long time.

With the body and presence that Boldin has, would anyone be surprised to see him play as long as say, Jerry Rice? He's a big guy and they definitely have a longer NFL shelf-life for the wide receiver position.

Now the other side of this beautiful coin is the dirty, ugly side that's rusted and covered in dirt.

The Eagles could simply be blowing smoke in order to try and drive up the price for the Giants to acquire him. This could be nothing more than trying to get the Giants into a phantom bidding-war for Boldin.

Unfortunately, that seems more likely.

However if the Eagles were to miss out on Boldin, there's an obvious solution staring them in the face.

Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson.

It's perfect. All they need to do is get Jeff Lurie on the phone with Mike Brown and convince him to part ways with Johnson (yes, Johnson. I refuse to call him Chad Ocho Cinco).

Considering Brown is the only one who wants to keep him around, if they can get him to change his stance the Bengals would all but give him away.

Apparently word is that some players have said, "If (Johnson) is traded, I'll drive him to the airport."

Well, great. He has a ride to board his plane to Philly.

And frankly, Johnson and McNabb would just mesh better than he would with Boldin. That's not to say that Boldin and McNabb wouldn't get along, I'm sure they'd be the best of friends. But Johnson likes to goof around and have fun, and so does McNabb.

Johnson has some famous antics like the H.O.F. jacket, proposing to the cheerleader and all of the other fun stuff.

McNabb does have his own though. Just in the playoffs alone the man pretended to pick off Tavaris Jackson on the last play of the game, of course everyone remembers his phantom phone call I can only assume went to the coaches' box, and there's always the Michael Jackson touchdown dance.

They've even had their moments together, such as the well-known pre-game warmup where Johnson got in line with the Eagles' receivers and caught a pass from McNabb, who was more than happy to go along with the harmless (yes people, everything is harmless) antics.

On the business side of it, the Bengals could probably be persuaded to accept a third-round pick for Johnson, and maybe a conditional seventh in 2010. At the very most, they'd want a straight-up second round pick.

There's no way the Bengals are delusional enough to ask for a first-round pick for a 31-year old receiver when players like T.O. and Randy Moss were traded for mid-round picks at age 30.

For you naysayers about Chad Johnson, let's not forget how poorly Moss played in Oakland when he wasn't happy. Then he gets out, goes to the Pats, and literally breaks record.

It's worth a try.
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UPDATE: Peters has received a 6-year, $60 million deal from the Philadelphia Eagles after their trade with the Buffalo Bills. Michael Lombardi reported the deal also includes $24 million guaranteed.

In case you live under a rock, the Philadelphia Eagles have traded for LT Jason Peters.

The Eagles have agreed in principle to trade their 1st round (28th), 4th round, and an undisclosed selection next year in 2010.

Peters looks to become the highest paid left tackle in the NFL and it's being reported that he and the Eagles have agreed in principle to a deal that would do just that. At this point, the highest paid LT is Jordan Gross who will be making around nine million dollars annually.

My guess is that Peters will get a deal somewhere in the ballpark of five to six years, and between $55 and $65 million with about $32-$35 in guaranteed money.

On the surface, this is a fantastic trade for the Eagles and it significantly improves their offensive line. However, this a trade that could go very wrong, very quickly.

When you look at this line now, it screams "best in the league!" This is not to say that maybe it won't be, but another possibility is presenting itself.

What if Jason Peters doesn't feel motivated to play?

The biggest gripe with Peters is the fact that he sometimes just doesn't feel like playing football and that it then affects his play on the field, something Andy Reid won't put up with for very long.

Peters is a Pro Bowl caliber player and obviously is worth everything that the Eagles are giving up for him, but again only if he can get over the mental aspect.

Unfortunately, this sounds like another high-priced Pro Bowl caliber player the Eagles have along that offensive line.

Yeah, you guessed it. Shawn Andrews.

Both of these guys are players who no defense in the league want to face. These are guys who strike fear into defensive coordinators, because they know they now need to find a way to blitz through a brick wall.

But again, these are also guys who can be revolving doors if not in the proper mental state.

Neither Peters nor Andrews had a particularly good 2008 season, and both of them came for the same reason: mental weakness.

Yes, they both had injuries, but the injuries really only came as a result of the weakened mental resolve that these players showed through the '08 season.

Peters only played in 13 games last year, while Andrews could only play in two.

If these two players can overcome their mental hurdles, then the Eagles' line will be in great shape and a top-five unit at the very least. If they cannot, the Eagles will have a year filled with nothing but frustration trying to cover the holes created by two Pro Bowl players who can't get their minds right.

And not the good kind of holes you expect from two Pro Bowl linemen, either.

Ripple Effect the Trade Causes

Q: Does this automatically take the Eagles out of the running for receiver Anquan Boldin?

A: No, not necessarily. The Eagles still have a first and third-round pick, exactly what the Cardinals are asking in exchange for Boldin.

Now, that does not mean the Eagles will pull the trigger on the deal. Reports have come out from every which way that the Eagles are very close to a deal for Boldin but they may have no merit.

Everyone in Philly is hoping this goes down. The city would be just fine without a first round pick if it means adding a Pro Bowl left tackle and wide receiver.

Q: What do the Eagles do with their other first-round (21st) pick?

A: They could go in any number of directions, including Knowshon Moreno or perhaps Brandon Pettigrew if he were to fall that far (interesting sidenote: Pettigrew was in Philly today for a visit).

The other possibility is the obvious one of trading for Boldin as mentioned above. However, and unfortunately, that's not the way the front office operates here in Philadelphia. They covet their draft picks, and rightfully so. But now it's time for them to ask themselves: Can we get a player of Boldin's stature with the 21st pick?

Their answer should be: Eh, probably not. What's Mr. Graves' phone number?

Q: What happens if Peters gets his money, then doesn't feel like playing?

A: He won't be in Philly for very long.

As addressed earlier, Peters has had a problem on the mental and motivational aspect of football for a couple years, and some fans are worried this could carry over down south here in Philly.

First off, even for me, this is really just thinking out loud and being a pessimistic fan. That's all it should be for everyone else as well. Peters should be just fine considering the change of scenery, big money, and being able to play for a team with a winning tradition over the past decade.

However, worst case scenario: Peters doesn't play up to par and the Eagles move him within the next two years. Reid and company have shown they have no problem moving a high-price player if he's not producing the way he should. See: Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse.

In all, this is a great move by the Eagles (not so much for the Bills, but let Bills fans discuss that amongst themselves. I'm not here to rub salt) for the future of this team and for next season.

And to the people who complained last season about trading out of the first round, it would appear as though we've essentially traded Jeff Otah for Jason Peters and DeSean Jackson. I'll take that, won't you? Give the Front Office its props.

There's no doubt that this move makes the Eagles better and should create some excitement in the locker room and in the streets.

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The legendary John Madden has retired from the broadcast booth after 30 years.

Madden had this to say on his retirement:

"It's time. I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and my five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not."

"It's been such a great ride. The NFL has been my life for more than 40 years, it has been my passion—It still is...It's still fun, and that's what it makes it hard and that's why it took me a few months to make a decision."

"I still love every part of it—the travel, the practices, the game film, the games, seeing old friends and meeting new people...but I know this is the right time."

Madden is arguably the most recognizable voice in all of sports, rivaling that of the late Harry Kalas and his former partner in the booth, Pat Summerall.

Madden was the coach of the Oakland Raiders during their glory days, going 103-32-7, winning seven AFC West titles, and defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. His winning percentage of .750 is still the most of any coach in NFL history, earning him a spot in the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame as a coach in 2006.

He could also become the first person to be inducted into the Hall-of-Fame for two different roles, coach and broadcaster.

Madden's life in the NFL started in 1958 when he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles out of Cal-Poly. Unfortunately, Madden never played in the NFL due to injury. He would eventually land the job in Oakland and has been a broadcaster since 1979.

Madden NFL Football is the highest selling sports video game of all time, and doesn't appear to be stopping any time soon.

Madden was a constant butt of many, many jokes; however, when it came right down to it, no one knew more than Mr. John Madden. He's a living legend.
(Featured on SportsCenter's "Blog Buzz" Segment on 4/17 @ 9:55 AM)

His last game in the booth was Pittsburgh's recent victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

Madden will be replaced by Cris Collinsworth on NBC's Sunday Night Football.
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Two weeks before the draft, the NFL is fairly slow at the moment.

I, for one, am all in favor of moving the draft up to the end of March or beginning of April. The time between the combine and the draft is incredible and has fans like you and myself going crazy for a month and a half.

In any event, the draft changes the landscape of a team for years to come. It may change the philosophy of an entire team, or just turn its fortunes with one pick.

But since we're not there yet, let's look at how the teams stack up right now before the draft.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers - Defending champs get this spot almost by default. They haven't made many moves in free agency with their only glaring need coming on the offensive line. While they should have made a go at Stacy Andrews (who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles), they still stand as the default number one team in the league.

2. Tennessee Titans - The Titans seem like a mirror image of the Steelers, so it should come as no surprise that they're a force and major player in the NFL. They have an astounding defense and running offense second to only that of Carolina's in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Chris Johnson and LenDale White may change that this year.

3. New York Giants - The Giants may be higher on the list if it weren't for the Plaxico Burress incident. They lost Derrick Ward, but will replace him with Ahmad Bradshaw and should be just fine. However, the Giants are a totally different offense without Burress and unless they address that, this could wind up being way too high for the G-men.

4. Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens are another team who seem to look just like the Steelers. This really shows twice a year when the two teams play. Strong defense and a capable offense is the identity of the top AFC teams, and the Ravens are no different.

5. Arizona Cardinals - This may be a surprise pick, but on paper they're definitely one the best teams in the league. Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Edge, and Steve Breaston on offense with Karlos Dansby, Darnell Dockett, DRC, and Antrel Rolle on defense, this team is superstar-laden with a shot to get back to the Big Game.

6. Indianapolis Colts - Can't ever count out the Colts, no matter how bad the defense may look. The offense is incredible year after year and always will be as long as Peyton Manning is under center. A year removed from a knee surgery that took away almost seven productive weeks is scary for the rest of the NFL.

7. New England Patriots - This is contingent upon a successful return by Tom Brady, but if that happens this is almost the exact team from 2007 and look just as scary. They will never duplicate '07, but this team is above average on both side of the ball and will find their way back into the playoffs.

8. Philadelphia Eagles - This seems a bit high, but the only teams who seem to be in better shape are the teams listed above. The Eagles return 19 of 22 starters and have a replacement in line for at least two of the three spots. Right tackle and safety are taken care of while left tackle is still undecided. A phenomenal defense returns to help a well-above average offense.

16. Dallas Cowboys - Be careful what you wish for, you'll miss T.O. and bad.

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Last season the defensive line was good. Not great, but good. They helped lead the way for the third ranked defense in the NFL, and the best overall defense in the NFC. However, there is room for improvement.

Trent Cole is a Pro Bowl guy, and has been year in and year out. He’s been phenomenal during his career with the Eagles and is recognized throughout the league by offensive coordinators as a guy for whom they must gameplan.

He commands the double team, which should allow for other players to make plays. Unfortunately that has not happened as much as it should from the guys on the other side, specifically Juqua Parker.

Parker accounted for only five sacks last season, being overshadowed by Darren Howard who doubled that amount with 10. Chris Clemons, the third end, finished with one less than Parker with four.

In the Eagles’ Jim Johnson-led defense, no one player will have more than between 13-15 sacks because of all the rotation and various blitz packages for various players. But with that said, five is just simply not enough out of a guy who is supposed to be our starter opposite Cole.

Howard has had a resurgence and could, or rather should, overtake Parker for the starting role while limiting him to a backup status (which for this defense of rotation simply means Howard should start getting some of Parker’s snaps).

Clemons, Victor Abiamiri, and second-year man Bryan Smith should all push for more playing time at defensive end next year. A healthy Abiamiri and Smith will mean more fresh legs and more speed on the edge, allowing for more sacks in ‘09 than in ‘08.

No one should be shocked if the Eagles also decide to take a defensive end in the middle rounds, somewhere between the third and fifth.

Brodrick Bunkley was originally drafted to be an inside pass-rushing presence more than a run-stuffer, but it would appear as though the opposite has happened. Bunkley was only able to muster up two sacks last year (to put that into perspective Dan Klecko had two in the first three games he played defense - more on him later), but came on big in the running game.

Bunkley’s most memorable plays from last season would have to be his stuffs of Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs on fourth-down plays in the playoffs.

Mike Patterson also suffered in the area of rushing the passer, coming up with zero sacks last season. That’s struggling at its best. However Patterson seems to be in the same boat as Bunkley in that he has come on very strong in stopping the run and being a huge presence in the middle.

In their defense, these guys do come off the field on third downs to make way for Johnson’s pass-rushing line consisting of Howard and Abiamiri in the middle.

However with that said, they still need to step up on first and second down to get pressure on the quarterback. If they show they can get to the passer, perhaps they can be left in on third down.

Trevor Laws was the Eagles’ first pick in the draft last year, going 47th overall in the second round. Laws seems to have a lot of potential and should find his way into some healthy playing time in the coming years if he can turn that potential into production when he gets the limited time he’ll likely be receiving for at least another year.

Dan Klecko will likely be coming back to his natural position, and that’s right where he belongs. Weaver is a significant upgrade at fullback, and I’m sure Klecko will be happy to bulk back up and play defense.

He played admirably, but what we saw was the best we were getting out of Klecko on offense. He showed promise last year as a defensive tackle, registering two sacks in the first three games before being switched to fullback.

Now Klecko can go back to defense while making the occasional appearance on offense inside the 20’s.

Overall this is a group filled with immense talent. Some of that talent when untapped last year and must be taken advantage of in 2009. The line is what makes this defense go, and without a good year from the line we Philly fans could go through a rather agonizing season.
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Stewart Bradley and Chris Gocong were solid starters last season and seem to have their spots on this team solidified. However, the WILL position is another story.

Seemingly without cause, Omar Gaither was benched last season in favor of Akeem Jordan. The change took place after the horrendous display by the entire team in the Baltimore game, but for some reason Gaither seemed to be the scapegoat.

The dilemma here is that while Gaither was playing well, perhaps not great but playing well, Jordan played just as well as Gaither.

The problem is that there are four starting-caliber linebackers, but only three spots available. This is a situation that will be resolved in the summer months when the team reports to Lehigh University.

This young but talented group took enormous strides during the ’08 season, but still have a lot to prove after really being taken advantage of during the playoffs.

In the first two games against the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants respectively, they took advantage of weak offensive units. While the Giants are usually not looked at as a weak offensive team, lingering injuries slowed Brandon Jacobs and the team was without Plaxico Burress due to his well-documented night club incident.

Reality struck this young group in the NFC Championship game, and can really be pointed to as a main reason for the lopsided first half. The Arizona Cardinals, unlike the Vikings and Giants, were far from offensively inadequate. Led by Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals attacked the middle of the field all game long with incredible success.

Personally, I don’t understand Gocong playing on the strong side. At Cal-Poly, Gocong was an unbelievable pass-rushing defensive end, registering 23.5 sacks in a single season. However here in Philly rather than rushing the quarterback, he’s been entrusted with covering the tight end.

To me, this doesn’t make any sense.

Why would you take a guy who’s already been taken out of his comfort zone going from DE to LB, then make it worse by asking him to cover the great tight ends who litter the NFC East? My suggestion would be to flip-flop the linebackers.

I believe Gaither should be the starter at SAM, while Gocong moves to WILL in order to take advantage of his pass-rushing ability. Some may say that Gocong is at SAM because he’s a better cover-guy, but is he that much better than Gaither that his pass-rushing ability should be ignored? I don’t believe so.

Stewart Bradley was a guy who a lot of people in Philly were clamoring for him to make the Pro Bowl, but I’m not so sure. He made a lot of mental mistakes throughout the season, but especially early on. Now that’s not to take away from a good first season that he had, but that’s really about all it was; Just a good first year.

However with that said, I do believe that he will evolve into a Pro Bowl player in the middle for Philly for many, many years to come. Unfortunately, that’s not happening just yet.

Gaither and Jordan both played well at WILL, and either of them will have the trust of Andy Reid and Jim Johnson to performed their role, whatever that may be.

Given that we have four starting-caliber linebackers with only three available spots, I have a solution to get everyone involved while also confusing opposing defenses to no end.

The 3-4.

Do I want the 3-4 full-time? No, of course not. We’ve had too much success and have the personnel for the 4-3, but the 3-4 could help us for a couple plays a game to get all of our linebacker talent on the field.

The linebackers would be Jordan at WILL, Gaither and Bradley at the MIKE, and Gocong at the SAM (or flipping Jordan and Gocong if it was up to me), with Broderick Bunkley playing nose in between Trevor Laws or Mike Patterson and Victor Abiamiri. This way, we get all of our linebackers on the field while throwing a curveball at the offense.

The line may be a bit small, but not by much. Abiamiri is 6’4” and 270 pounds with Laws weighing in at 6’1” and 300 pounds. As I said, a bit small, but not by much and worth it to confuse the offense.

In all, I think the linebacking corps needs a veteran guy to push all of these younger linebackers and help mentor them after getting rid of Jeremiah Trotter and Takeo Spikes. With a couple more years of experience and time together, I believe we’ll eventually be looking at one of the better NFL linebacker corps… Just not yet.
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Jim Johnson has been in the driver’s seat of this defense for the past 10 years, and hopefully he won’t be going anywhere soon. Another leader on defense, Brian Dawkins, is gone for Denver.

Other than that, the defense remains 100 percent intact and looks to continue their dominating 2008 performance into the 2009 season behind a good mix of young talent and veteran leadership.

First up, the secondary.

With the departure of long-time leader and Philadelphia main-stay Brian Dawkins, the Eagles would appear to have a need at safety. However, with the signing of Sean Jones they may have found a starter for years to come.

Jones is a young guy, and a former second round pick. He had some good years in Cleveland, ranking third among safeties in interceptions with 14 behind only Ed Reed and O.J. Atogwe. All of this done on a defense ranked consistently in the bottom half of the league.

Rashad Baker was another guy brought it, seemingly only for depth purposes. He’s a young guy with some upside but really got overshadowed in the black hole of Oakland. For those who don’t know, Baker was actually the guy who picked off Jeff Garcia in Week 17 to vault the Eagles into the playoffs. That interception was one of three on the year.

Quintin Demps, return specialist for most of the year, will also get a chance to compete with Jones. However in only his second year, Demps will probably be best served as a backup while focusing on his return skills, something the Eagles have lacked for a few years.

Quintin Mikell has been fantastic at the strong safety position over the past couple of years and looks to only get better. Many believe Mikell’s strong play should have earned him a Pro Bowl nod last year (led the team with 169 tackles, second with four forced fumbles and three interceptions), but that was not the case. Instead, he was selected as a second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press.

The cornerback position has always been good under Andy Reid, and 2009 should be no different. From Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, to Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown, and now Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel.

Samuel is a superstar and proved that last season by coming up with six total interceptions, four in the regular season and two in the playoffs. Sheldon Brown has been an extremely steady and solid contributor, seemingly ready to take the next step into “elite.” He had his first interception in 19 games last season against the Dallas Cowboys, but has not missed a single game in his entire seven year career.

Joselio Hanson is a guy who was picked up off the scrap-heap to add some depth to the cornerback position, but has emerged as a solid nickel corner. He came up with his first interception in 2008 on Thanksgiving night against Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals.

With the trade of the disgruntled Lito Sheppard, the Eagles will now look to the unproven second-year man Jack Ikegwuonu, who spent his rookie year on I.R. nursing a torn ACL he suffered only weeks before the combine.

Look for the Eagles to add some depth to the corner position in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft to push Ikegwuonu, or at the very least a late-round or undrafted camp body.

Either way, the secondary seems to be in great position to build on a solid 2008 to a possible great 2009. I look for more turnovers, less big plays, and overall more respect for a squad entering its second full year together as a unit.
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In what was billed as a fantastic opening game for the MLB season, the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies (Myers) fell to the division-rival Atlanta Braves (Lowe) at Citizens Bank Park, 4-1.

The night started off fine for Myers, who retired the first two batters he faced. Unfortunately, Chipper Jones would have none of that. Jones hit a 2-out single right in front of Raul Ibanez setting up the beginning of the end for Myers and the Phils.

Brian McCann slammed a change-up at the numbers deep into the second deck in right field to quiet the rowdy Philadelphia crowd and put the Braves out ahead by two early in the game.

Bad went to worse for Myers in the second inning.

Jeff Francoeur would lead off the inning and start it off with a bang. He nailed a solo shot into left field to extend the Braves' lead to 3-0.

Could it get any worse for Myers? Evidently it could.

A rookie from AA came up for his first major league at-bat, and boy did he make the best of it. Jordan Schafer had to go low for it, but he cracked a Myers pitch into deep center field for his first major league hit and home run extending the lead to 4-0.

All of this took place in a span of just five batters.

While Myers was having his first meltdown of the season, so were the Phils' batters. The Phils could only manage two hits in the first eight innings, and only four hits total.

The only run of the night for the Phils came in the bottom of the ninth when Jayson Werth brought Eric Bruntlett in on a base hit with 1 out.

After a walk for Chase Utley, Ryan Howard was up with a chance to potentially tie the game and only 1 out. Unfortunately, in the pattern of the game, Howard struck out looking for the slider. He got a fastball right down the middle from Mike Gonzalez and Howard couldn't adjust.

He should have been looking fastball knowing he would have to adjust to anything else, but he did the opposite and got himself locked up. This was the worst possible scenario for the Phils at that time.

An outside pitch chased by Raul Ibanez would eventually end the game.

All in all, this was a totally different game for these two teams. The Braves have to feel good about where they're going for the rest of the season. Their big free-agent acquisition, Derek Lowe, gave them eight shut-out innings and allowed only two hits during that time. A rookie from AA hit a home-run for his first at-bat, and the vets chipped in by going deep as well in McCann and Francoeur.

The Phils on the other hand played with zero intensity and were just plain beat down by the Braves tonight. Hopefully they can identify and fix the problems so this doesn't spell the story for the 2009 season.

The Phils (0-1, Moyer) will face off against the Braves (1-0, Jurrjens) again on 4/7 at 7:05 @ Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. Hopefully the Phils can avoid a second-straight embarassing home loss.

Box Score courtesy of mlb.com.

Braves 4, Phillies 1

Atlanta AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Johnson, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 Escobar, SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 Jones, C, 3B 4 1 2 0 0 2 1 .500 McCann, C 4 1 1 2 0 2 2 .250 Anderson, G, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250 Francoeur, RF 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .250 Kotchman, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 Schafer, CF 3 1 2 1 1 1 0 .667 Lowe, P 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .000 a-Norton, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Gonzalez, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 35 4 8 4 1 10 9 a-Flied out for Lowe in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Escobar (1, Myers), Jones, C (1, Myers). HR: McCann (1, 1st inning off Myers, 1 on, 2 out), Francoeur (1, 2nd inning off Myers, 0 on, 0 out), Schafer (1, 2nd inning off Myers, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Escobar 2; Jones, C 3; McCann 4; Anderson, G; Francoeur 4; Schafer 5. RBI: McCann 2 (2), Francoeur (1), Schafer (1). 2-out RBI: McCann 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Anderson, G; McCann; Lowe. Team LOB: 5.		Philadelphia AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Rollins, SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .250 Werth, RF 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .250 Utley, 2B 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 Howard, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .000 Ibanez, LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000 Victorino, CF 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 Feliz, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 Ruiz, C 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333 Myers, P 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 a-Dobbs, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Taschner, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Eyre, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Durbin, C, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Lidge, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-Bruntlett, PH 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 Totals 31 1 4 1 1 6 8 a-Flied out for Myers in the 6th. b-Doubled for Lidge in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Ruiz (1, Lowe), Bruntlett (1, Gonzalez). TB: Rollins; Werth; Ruiz 2; Bruntlett 2. RBI: Werth (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rollins; Ibanez. Team LOB: 4.
Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lowe (W, 1-0) 8.0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0.00 Gonzalez 1.0 2 1 1 1 2 0 9.00		Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Myers (L, 0-1) 6.0 8 4 4 1 6 3 6.00 Taschner 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Eyre 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Durbin, C 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Lidge 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
IBB: Schafer (by Myers). Pitches-strikes: Lowe 97-66, Gonzalez 28-15, Myers 97-58, Taschner 17-9, Eyre 10-5, Durbin, C 4-3, Lidge 9-6. Groundouts-flyouts: Lowe 13-7, Gonzalez 0-1, Myers 7-5, Taschner 2-0, Eyre 0-1, Durbin, C 0-0, Lidge 1-1. Batters faced: Lowe 26, Gonzalez 6, Myers 27, Taschner 3, Eyre 2, Durbin, C 1, Lidge 3. Umpires: HP: Jeff Kellogg. 1B: Mark Wegner. 2B: Tim Timmons. 3B: Rob Drake. Weather: 60 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, Out to CF. T: 2:22. Att: 44,532. April 5, 2009 Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner

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